Reversible steel-wool machine



1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QGJQQM.

Nov. 23 1926.

C. FIELD ET Al.

7 REVERSIBLE STEEL WOOL MACHINE Filed Jan. 6.

Nov. 23' 1926.

C. FIELD ET AL REVERSIBLE STEEL wobL MACHINE Filed Jan. 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r l I l ll INVENTORS (Imsb 1 58/0 Alan Flowers fi'eoqqel' Gray w ATTORNEY Nov. 23 1926.

c. FIELD ET AL REVERSIBLE STEEL WOOL MACHINE Filed Jan. 6 1925 11H 1 ill I lNvENTpRS Crosy field glam E1 jiflz wers eorye ray ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE,

CROSBY FIELD, OF BROOKiYN, AND ALAN E. FLOWERS AND GEORGE FRANCIS GRAY, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO BRILLO MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

INC., A CORPORATION 01 YORKQ REVERSIBLE STEEL-WOOL MACHINE.

Application flled January 6, 1925. I Serial No. 779.

Our present invention relatesto steel wool machines of the type commonly employed to cut steel wool from a wire which is reeled back and forth over a suitable bed. Ma-

5 chines of this type commonly employ SIX cutter holders, operating in tandem on; the wire, each holder carrying-two oppositely directed cutters So that all the cutter holders may be shifted laterally to bring the proper l0 ly directed set of cutters intooperative engagement withthe wire when the direction of reeling of the wire is reversed.

In machines of this type, it has never been found possible to dispense with highly skilled labor for adjusting the individual knives so that they will work properly to cut uniform quality steel wool and while our present invention does not dispense with the-necessity for skill, one object is to greatly reduce the number of movements that are required to make the nece3=ary adjustments of cutters, particularly whenthe direction of the wire is reversed. One important" time and labor saving feature is arranging for asimultaneous shift or what we term a universal traverse whereby a single hand movement operates to cause the desired lateral, shift of all the cutter stands. At the same time, each stand is individually adjustable with respect to the shifting mech-: anism so that each pair of knives may be given an independent lateral adjustment to bring difierentportions of its cutting edge into operative engagement with the wire. That is tov say, the individual transverse adjustments which may be necessary at any moment, are relative to and superpo:ed upon the simultaneous or uniyersal transverse adjustment which is used only when the direc 4 tion of pass 0 he wire is reversed.

Another inipor nt feature of our inventioninvolves maki g the knife holders more compact so that more of them can be operated on a drawing bed of ordinary length. In the specific machine here illustrated, the frame, bed and reeling mechanism of the machine is of standard commercial design and length originally equipped with six pairs of oppositely directed cutters, whereas our present invention makes possible the use of twelve or ,even fourteen pairs of cutters, though but eleven are shown in the drawingl The reason only six cutters havebeen uted .in tandem on the prior machines'is that the cutter blades have been non-adjustably clamped bn the ends of relatively long levers,

extending parallel to the Wire, the adjustment of the cutter being effected by having said levers on pivots and locked in desired angular relation by set screws engaging each arm on opposite sides of its'pivotal axis. lVhen the depth of cut was to bevaried, both of these screws had'to be operated, one being backed off and the other tightened,

for each of the blade holding levers. In place of this cumbersome arrangement, We

provide a simple vertically slidable block,

in a slot of which the cutting blade is held by a clamping screw. The bed of the slot is at a fixed angle to the wire so that we avoid the change of cutting angle which is unavoidable in the pivoted forms of knife holder above de:cribed. The adjustment in our device is effected entirely by rgtation of a-vertical screw engaging the blade holding block. p I

The above simplified construction, whereinrelatively long pivotal tool holders are dispensed with, makes it possible to place the knives muchnearer together.

Another feature of our invention is arranging the tool holders so close together, that oppositely directed blades of adjacent holders can operate upon the same bed piece. Anothenimprovement made pof'sible by this proximity is arranging an air blast for nonpositively floating the cut steel wool laterally away from the knife edges and the wire by means of an air jet from a single nozzle.

metallic wires, rods'and bandsof triangular, rectangular or other polygonal cross "section and in factmay operateund'er somecircumstances on plate or sheet nraterial. In so far rial in other forms, su'ch,'for instance, as

as the present invention is concerned, the machine is capable of operating on materials other than the steel and of grooving for purposes other than the production of the specific product above mentioned.v

' The above and'other features of our invention will be more .evident from-the following description inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a viewin side elevation of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec-. tional viewon the" line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line4.4of 2. I I

The machine includes a table-10, supportedupon a pair of longitudinally extending integrally connected beams 11, which are in turnsupported at each end upon a pair of sturdy legs 12. This rather heavy frame construction prevents unduevibration when the machine is in operation and afiords a convenient mounting for the reels 13 which are borne in brackets 14 projecting endwise from the legs of the table. The transverse webs 15 which connect beams 11 oifer a support for a longitudinally extending bed bar 16 accommodated in a cut away portion 17 of the table and having a curved up or edge which is highest at the center of t e table. Bed blocks 18 are disposed within a slot 16 in the upper surface of bed bar 16 and are curved longitudinally in conformity with the bed bar. Each block is vertically adjustable upon'a pair ofasupporting screws 19 and is locked against movement by one or more set screws 20. Aligned grooves 21' in the upper surfaces of the blocks receive and guide a wire 22 or other strip of material being worked upon. 7

The reels are below the table 10 and .due to the longitudinal "curvature of the bed, a downward stress is. always exerted on. the wire as it is dragged over the bed from one reel to the other, so that it, is held firm 1y in the guide grooves, 21. Reels 13 are reversible both as'to direction of rotation and direction of transverse fged for purposes of aproperly coiling'the wire and they have releasable friction brakes whereby the supply reel affords proper resistance for maintaining suitable tension on the wire to prevent overrunning. lnasmuch'as all of these features. are conventional in machines of this character, they have not been illustrated. The reels serve alternately asf'traction and supply reels to draw the wire under tension alternately in opposite directions over the bed, and we may employ any suitable number of straightening rolls 24 at each end of the table to prevent kinking of the wire and insure a smooth feed.

Tool stands 25 are mounted for movement transversely of the table in undercut guide ways 26 and each stand carries a pair of oppositely facing kni. s or grooving tools 27, 1

adjustment of the knives to lower them as the wire becomes thinned after repeated grooving operations. With this end in View, we mount the tools in inclined slots 28 in vertically sliding .tool holding blocks 29 guided in side plates 30 of the tool-stands. Eachblock is verticallyadjustable by means of a single screw 31 rotating in the top plate 32 of the tool stand. Milled handle nuts 33 on the projectingnpper end of the screws offer suconvenientmeans for manually ad usting the blocks. To clamp the tools firmly 1n place within the slots 28, we may employ clamping screws 34 extending diagonally through the blocks 30 and clamping the tools against the bottom of the inclined slots. The direct vertical adjustment of the tools not only saves a great amount of space heretofore occupied by the longitudinally extend ing adjusting levers, but permits an unvarying cutting angle to be maintained between the tool. and work in all adjustments of the tool holders. The stands are so close together that the ends of oppositely facing tools of adjacent stands may alternately work on opposite ends of the same bed block and as notedabove we may employ up to 14 stands on a machine which heretofore could accommodate only six pairs of tools.

A further feature,- of great importance, IS the universal transverse mechanism by which all of the tool stands are simultaneously shifted transversely of the bed upon reversal ofthe direction of movement of wire. ThlS affords a specialized unitary means for serving one of the purposes heretofore servedby the usualindividual adjusting screws that Hill are individually operated for independent I depends a tail-like extension 36 provided at its lower end with a threaded aperture 37 receiving the threaded rear extremity of a feed screw 39 rotatable and axially shiftable-in aligned hearings in the beams 11. @rank handles 4Q secured of: the square forward ends 41' of the screws 39 adord means for served in our present construction finely adjusting the tools due to the engagement of the feeding threads 38 with the tail pieces. 36. These individual adjustments effected ,by means of the handles 40 permit optional transverse shifting of any stand at any time inorder to bring a new portion of thecutting edge of a tool into engagement with the work. Such fine adjustmentis superposed on the main simultaneous, standshifting adjustment used at each reversal of the wire.

- A number of rods 45 have-their rear ends loosely secured in openings 46 in the rear beam 11 by pairs of clamping nuts 47. The

forward end 48 of each rod 45 is downwardly ofi'set as at 49 and passes under the front beam 11 The loose connection of the rods 45 with the rear beam and the inherent resiliency of the rods permits them to have a slight vertical movement for a purpose which will appear more fully hereafter. Each rod mounts at its projecting end 48 a sectional bearing including a pairof vertically disposed blocks 51 secured on the threaded end of the rod by a nut 52. Blocks 51 cooperate to provide a bearing 53 for a rotatable eccentric 54. A shaft 55 extending longitudinally of the machine has eccentric bearings in the eccentrics 54.

Sh'aft 55'is also accommodated in the transverse bores 55 of blocks 57 depending from the forward ends of the screws 39, blocks 57 being held against longitudinal movement of the screws by collars 58. One or more of the eccentrics 54 is preferably provided with asocket 59 therein, into which a lever shown) is adapted to be inserted for the purpose of partially rotating the eccentric. Rotary movement of the eccentrics 54 will tend to swing the shaft 55 upwardly and rearwardly. Due, however, to the engagement of thisshaft with the blocks 57 and the unbending nature of'the screws 39 upon which the blocks 57 are fixed, the eccentrics and their bearing blocks will be forced downwardly springing the rods 45. As the sh ft 55 passes the dead center position, rods 4 will agalnspring upwardly assisting in the latter portion of the shafts movement. Rota- :tion-of the eccentrics to shift the shaft from "the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 2 obviously projects all of the screws 39 rearWa-rdly and consequently shifts all of the tool stands ,to bring tool sets 27 irrto' engagement over the work on the bed, without interfering with or changing the relative positions of the tool holders with respect to each other. The construction which necessitates forcing the shaft 55 over the dead center against the elastic resistance of the bendable spring rods'45 affords a positive lock to retain the tool stands in either extreme position and eliminates the possibility of any accidental shifting during operation. I

(not.

sert a The cutter blades may be of an entirely conventional character, consisting of platebevelled end faces-27" they would be hardly visible to the e *e even if the machine were illustrated on a ull size sca e. Each tool cuts a considerable number of grooves in the wire passing under it and produces a tough steel fibre 60 of minute triangular cross-section.

A. feature of the inventionis the provision of non-positive means in the nature of air blast nozzles 61 for floating the fibres oil" the bed and into a hood 62 at the rear of the machine which guides them downwardly into the floor or into a suitable receptacle (not shown). suitable distance from the wire, midway between adjacent tool stands and are flattened and flared at a proper angle to cool the cuttingedges and to take care of-fibres or steel wool cut thereby at both ends of the bed block, one lateral edge of the blast floating the fibre cut by tool .27 when the machine is running in one direction and the other lateral edge of the blast floating wool cut by the tool 27 whengthe wire is passing in the other direction, while the intermediate portion'cools and cleans'the wire. Nozzles 61 are fed through vertical feed pipes 65 communicating at their lower end with a horizontal supply pipe 66 extending throughout the length of the machine and receiving air from any appropriate source of supply through a vertical pipe 67 equipped with a valve 68 for controlling the foul of the blast.

Floating fibres to the rear of the machine not. only prevents fouling of the cutting tools, but preserves the fibres in a loose, flufi'y condition which is highly desirable for packagingpurposes. Guard covers 69, 70 may be. employedover the stud 35 and the screw feed mechanism for the tool stands The blast nozzles are located a to prevent them from becoming fouled by the floating fibres. I

In 0 eration a skilled attendant will in lever in the socket 59'after each reversal of the wire to simultaneously shift all of the tool stands and bring a revcrsely facing set of cutting tools over the wire. Sincethe wire becomes thinned by repeated grooving operations, each shifting of the .stands will be followed by rapid and slight adjustment. of the tool 'carrying blocks'to lower the cutting tools into engagement'with the wire, this 0 rotating the heads of the screws 31. The

superposition of the adjustment at 37, 38

upon the main tool stand shifting mechanism permits individual tool stands to be adjustment being effected by l of operation by using a single non-a'djustf 1ng slidably mounted in each stand tor right engagement with the wire so that the entire.-

cutting edges may be worn downbefore resharpening of the tools becomes necessary We thus greatly reduce the time and work required for making adjustments of the knives and further save time, increase the output of a single machine and decrease cost able air blast that relieves the operator 0 most of the work of caring for the material.

We claim:

. 1. In a machine of the classdescribed, a

bed, reels at opposite ends of the bed adapt- I ed to serve alternately as supply and traction reels for dragging a strip of metallicstoclg alternately in opposite directions across the bed, a plurality of cutter stands having movement transverselyof the bed,

sets of oppositely facing grooving cutters in the stands and unitary means for shifting all the stands to bring the proper set 0f cutters int-o coaction with the work when the direction of movement of the stock is reversed.

I 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a bed and-means for pulling a wire alternately in opposite directions over the bed of sets of oppositely facing grooving cutters and means for simultaneously shifting said sets transversely of the bed to bring the proper set of cutters into operation when direction of movement of Wire is reversed,

3. In a machine of the vclass described, the

combination with a bed and meansfor pulling a wire alternately in opposite directions over the bed of sets of oppositelyt facing grooving cutters, means for simultaneously shifting said sets transversely of the lied-to bring the proper set of cutters into operation, when direction of movement of wire is reversed, and means for independently adjust 'ing the depth of cut of each grooving cutter;

4. In a machine of the class described,-the combination with a bed and means for pulling a wire-alternately in opposite directions over the bed of sets of oppositely facing grooving cutters, means for simultaneously shifting said sets transversely of the bed to bring the prope set of cutters into operation? when direction 0 movement of wire is re versed, and ineansdor independently transversely adjusting each of said cutters to present a new portion ofits. cutting edge to the material on the bed.

5. In a machine of the class described, a supporting bed, means for moving metalstock alterantely in opposite directions over the bed, cutter stands movable transversely: above the bed, two sets of cutter holders and grooving cutters, one holder of each set being slidably mounted in each stand for right line adjustment to and from the bed, in comstock alternately in the proper set of shifting all of'the stands to bring the proper set of cutters into position when the direction of movement of the stock is reversed.

6. In a machine of the class described, a supporting bed,- means' for moving metal stock alternately in opposite direction over the bed, cutter stands movable transversely above the bed, two sets of cutter holders and ooving cutters, one holdersof each set beline adjustment to and from the bed,-in combinationwith -means for simultaneously shifting all of the stands to-bring the proper set ofeutters into position when the direction of movement of the stock is reversed, and means for transve selyshifting a single stand independent y of the common shifting means to present anew portion of the cutting edge of the cutter to the stock.) I

7 In a machine of the class described, a supporting bed,:means for moving metal opposite'directions over the bed, cutter stands movable transversely above thebed, two sets of cutter holders and grooving cutters, one holder of each set being slidably mounted in each stand for right line adjustment .to and from the bed, in combination with means for simultaneously shifting all of the stands to bring cutters into position when the direction of movement of the stock is reversed, and feed screws for independently adjusting each cutter holder in its stand to regulate its depth of grooving.

8. In a machine 0 the class described, a bed, means for dra nately in opposite directions over the bed, a plurality of cutter stands shiftable transversel of he bed, sets of oppositely facing groovm cutters inthe stands and means for venhcally adjusting the cutters without changing their cutting angle relative to the stock on the bed:

9. In 'a machine of the class described, a bed, reels at opposite ends of the bed adapted to act alt'ernately as supply and traction reels for dragging a'length of metallic stock' bed, reels atopposite ends of the bed adapted to act alternately as supplyand traction reels for dragging alength of metallic stock alternately in opposite directions across the movement, transversely. of the bed, blocks vertically adj ustable in the cutter stands and sets of oppositely, facing groov ng cutters, one in each block, and feed screws for raisbed, and a plurality of cutter stands having job 'ng wire stock alterv izo ingand lowering the blocks without varying the cutting angle of ,the cutters relative to the work. v e v 11. In a machine ofthe class described, a

bed, means for drawing wire stock alternately in opposite directions over the bed, a plurality of cutter stands shiftable transversely over the bed, sets of oppositely facing groovi ing cutters in the stands, means for shifting the stands to alternately present the respective sets of cutters, in position to operate on the stock," air blast nozzles arranged ap- .proximately midway between adjacent stands deliveriug a fan shaped blast sufiil5 ciently wide to float oif the died, fibres cut by adjacent oppositely facing cutters of the respective sets.

12: In a machine of the class described, a bed including a series of spaced adjustable supporting grooves, means for drawing wire stock alternately in opposite directions along said grooves, a plurality of cutter stands shiftable transversely of the bed, sets of oppositely facing grooving cutters in the stands, means for shifting the stands to alternately present the respective sets of cutters in position to operate on the stock, op-

I positely" facing lcutters of'adjacent stands being adapted to work alternately on opposite ends of a single 'bed blpck, and means for delivering an air blast impinging laterally upon each block. l

13. In a machine of the class described, a

5a bed including a series of spaced adjustable bed blocks having aligned wire guiding and supporting grooves, meansfor drawing \wire stock alternately in opposite directions along saidgrooves, a plurality of cutter stands shiftable transversely of the bed, setsof oppositely facing srreoying cutters in the stands, means for shifting the stands to alternately present the respective'sets of cutters in position to operate on the stock, oppositely facing cut- 5 ters of adjacent stands being adaptedto' on opposite ends of a single ck, and means forfioating fibres off callyadjustable grooving cutters in the stands. means for shifting the stands to alternately present the respective sets of cut- 7 ters in position to'operate on the stock. and

air blast nozzles forfloating fibres cut from the stock off the bed of the machine, .15. --In a machine of the class described. a bed, means fordragging metallic stock in bed blocks having alignedwire guiding and wire, a means for bodily opposite directions over the bed, cutter stands mounted for movement transversely of thebed, sets of oppositely facing vertically adjustable grooving cutters in the stands, means for shifting the stands to alternately present he respective sets offcutters in position to operate on the stock, arid air blast nozzles forfloating fibres out from the stock off the bedof the machine; a hood at the back of the machine into which the fibres are 'blown. V

16. In a machine of the class described, a bed, means for dragging metallic stock in opposite directions over the bed, cutter stands mounted for movement transversely of the bed, sets of oppositely facing vertically adjustable grooving cutters in the. stands, means for shifting the stands to alternately present the respective sets of cutters in total: if the bed of the machine, and means or preventing'the fibres carried ott by the air blast from fouling the carriage shifting mechanism.

. 17, ha machine of the class described, a bed, means for dra ging metallic stock in opposite directions: over the bed, cutter stand-s mounted to movement transversely of the. bed, sets oppositely facing vertically adjustable grooving cutters in thestands, means for shifting the stands to alters in position to operate on the stock,: air

' blast nozzles for floating fibres cut from the stock off the bed of themachirie, and a guard device around the ca iagef shifting mechanism to prevent clogging thereof by fibres floated off the bed.

18; In a metal wool machine, means for feeding wire alternately in opposite directions, a c'utter'stand', a pairv of oppositely facing grooving cutters projecting on opposite sides ofthestand at fixed angles to the rectilinear adjustment of each cutter toward or away fiom the-wire and means for shifting the stand to bring either sition.

19. In a metal wool machine of the class described, the'combination including a bed over which wire is'adapted to be drawn,'a pluralitiv of shift'able cutter holders on the set of cutters into operative pobed and oppositely facing cutting tools insaid h6lders',.alternately operable as the diposition to operate on the stock, air, blast iozzles for floating fibres cut from the I ternately presentthe respective sets of cut- 4 rectipn of movementof the wire stock is reversed, means for simultaneously shifting all of the cutting tools, including extensions for the stands, endwise movable rodscon- 'fiected to-the extensions, and rotatable eccentric means all of the rods. I

20. In a metal wool machine of the-class described, the combination including a bed or simultaneously shifting over which wire isadapted to be drawn,

plurality of 'shiftable cutter holders on the ed and oppositely facing cutting tools In said holders, operable as the direction of movement of the wire stock is reversed, means for simultaneously shifting all of the cutting tools including extensions for the stands, endwisc movable rods connected to the extensions and rotatable eccentric means for simultaneously shifting all of the rods; each of said rods having threaded engagefor the stands, endwise movable rods connected to the extensions, and rotatable eccentric means for simultaneously shifting all of the rods; and means for individually shifting any, of saidcar/riages for adjustment purposesindependently of the action of said rotatable eccentric means.

22. In a metal wool machine of the class described, the combination including a bed overwhich wire is adapted to be drawn, a

. lplurality of shifta-ble cutter holders on the ed and oppositely facing cutting tools in said holders, alternately operable as the direction of movement of the wire stock is reversed, means for simultaneously shifting all of the cutting tools including extensions for the stands, endwise movable rods con-.

nected to the extensions, and rotatable eccentric means for simultaneously shifting ing mechanism, for simultaneousl all of the"rods; and means for independently vertically adjusting all of the cuttlng tools to regulate their depth of cutting.

23. In a steel wool machine of the class described, a bed, means for drawing a length of wire alternately in opposite directions over the bed, cutterstands on the bed, oppositely facing grooving cutters mounted for vertical adjustment in the stands, shifting mechanism for simultaneously transversely shifting all of the stands, said mechanism including automatic locking means for retaining the stands in either extreme position.'

24. In a steel wool machine of the class described, a bed, means for drawing a length of wire alternately in opposite directions over the bed, cutter stands on the bed oppositely facing grooving cutters mounted for vertical adjustment in the stands, shifttransversely shifting all of the stands, sald mechanism including automatic locking means for retaining the stands in either extreme position, said locking means including an eccentrically inovable shift bar and spring means opposing the shifting of the bar from one extreme position to the other. V

Signed by said CnosBY' Fmu), at Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State of New York, this 26th day of November, A. D., 1924; by said ALAN E. FLOWERS, at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, this 8th day of December, A. D., 1924:; and by said GEORGE FnANus GRAY, at New York City, in the County of New York and State of New York, this 1st day of December, A. D., 1924.

CROSBY FIELD. ALAN E. FLOWERS. GEORGE FRANCIS GRAY, 

